Salisbury, Md. (Friday, June 28, 2013) - The Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation (CRSF) was presented with a $25,000 grant provided by the Arthur W. Perdue Foundation at the Ripken Foundation Annual Board Meeting Luncheon in Baltimore. The grant will be used to bring the Badges for Baseball initiative to at-risk youth in Salisbury.

"Badges for Baseball is a wonderful program that not only keeps children active, but teaches life lessons about teamwork and integrity through relationships with mentors, and exposes them to law enforcement in a positive setting," said Jim Perdue, Chairman of Perdue Farms. "At Perdue, we believe in being responsible members of the communities where we do business. It’s this kind of partnership — which aligns with our company’s core values — that enables us to fulfill that belief and our commitment to the community. It gives me great pleasure to present this grant for $25,000 funded by the Arthur W. Perdue Foundation to the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation."

Badges for Baseball is a juvenile crime prevention program created by the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice. It’s a simple concept: pair police and kids together to play and learn. The program reshapes the relationship between law enforcement and children living in underserved communities across the country. In 2012, the Foundation impacted more than 154,000 youth in 47 states around the country.

“We are excited to partner with Perdue to bring the Badges for Baseball program to deserving youth in Salisbury,” said Steve Salem, President of the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation. “Perdue’s mission aligns directly with the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation’s mission to promote healthy lifestyles. Together, we will continue our efforts to implement programs that help youth understand vital life lessons needed to display a positive, productive and healthy lifestyle.”

The Badges for Baseball initiative is set to launch in the Salisbury area in fall 2013.

About the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation
The Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation uses baseball- and softball-themed programs to help build character and teach critical life lessons to underserved youth residing in America’s most distressed communities. Founded in 2001 by members of the Ripken family in memory of their patriarch Cal Sr., the Foundation works to create programs that positively impact at-risk youth through active community partnerships with America’s most successful youth service organizations. The Ripken Foundation uses the baseball and softball field to help teach life’s critical lessons such as perseverance, loyalty, nutrition, hard work and leadership to young people residing in disadvantaged communities. In 2012, the Foundation impacted more than 154,000 youth in 47 states around the country.

About Perdue Farms
Perdue Farms is the parent company of Perdue Foods and Perdue AgriBusiness, and represents the Perdue family ownership.  Since our beginning on Arthur Perdue’s farm in 1920, through expansion into agribusiness and the introduction of the Perdue brand of chicken and turkey under Frank Perdue, to our third-generation of family leadership with chairman Jim Perdue, we’ve remained a family-owned, family-operated business dedicated to making Perdue the most trusted name in food and agricultural products. To learn more about Perdue, visit www.perdue.com®.

About the Arthur W. Perdue Foundation
The Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, the charitable giving arm of Perdue Farms, was established in 1957 by company founder Arthur W. Perdue and is funded through the estates of Arthur W. Perdue and Frank Perdue. As part of our belief in supporting the communities where and with whom we do business, the Foundation provides grants on behalf of Perdue Farms in communities where large numbers of our associates live and work. At Perdue Farms, we believe in responsible food and agriculture.